ESPN disses UConn (again)

[Watchdog]

Has anyone noticed the games ESPN has been showing on its "family" of networks this week?

I scrolled through all this past week's games and it basically came down to three women's games replayed four to five times each:
UConn vs Mississippi State in the 2017 National Semi; UConn vs Notre Dame in the 2018 National Semi and Louisville vs Baylor in the 2013 Semi.

Must mean one of two things. They're either hyping their ACC and SEC partners; or, believe no one wants to watch games UConn wins.

The men's games being shown feature Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina. Trying to show stability in these troubled times?

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Those are probably the most renowned games over the last six years; all barn burners that came down to the final second. Not shocking they'd show them. They'll have ample opportunity to show other games, but the problem is UConn has mostly crushed the opposition in big games.

I have a feeling the first UConn/Tennessee game might pop up at some point.

 

[Plebe]

Well, it just so happens that UConn came out on the losing end of two of the most memorable epic games that ended with buzzer-beating shots. Those are the games that get replayed, not the 30-point beatdowns of Syracuse or Oregon State.

 

[triaddukefan]

 

[donalddoowop]

Some of the games were buzzer games. They also showed the ND, MsSt buzzer beater.

 

[eebmg]

Well, it just so happens that UConn came out on the losing end of two of the most memorable epic games that ended with buzzer-beating shots. Those are the games that get replayed, not the 30-point beatdowns of Syracuse or Oregon State.

so the world will never see the Pulido basket?

But we know where to look.

 

[KY Card Fan]

The men's games being shown feature Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina. Trying to show stability in these troubled times?

The two Kentucky games shown yesterday were Kentucky-Duke from 1992 and Kentucky-Indiana from 2011. Both losses, both buzzer beating shots from guys named Christian.

Even in these unusual times, you better believe that got a lot of reaction on social media here in Kentucky.

As other have said, I don't think it has anything to do with disrespecting anybody. They show close, exciting, games in big-time settings (mostly NCAA but not always). And some of the most exciting games involve upsets of teams like UConn and Kentucky.

 

[veryolddog]

Well..........I hope that ESPN hangs onto it's chairs and microphones for the next 3 years watching their favorite teams play UConn.

 

[HuskyNan]

Has anyone noticed the games ESPN has been showing on its "family" of networks this week?

I scrolled through all this past week's games and it basically came down to three women's games replayed four to five times each:
UConn vs Mississippi State in the 2017 National Semi; UConn vs Notre Dame in the 2018 National Semi and Louisville vs Baylor in the 2013 Semi.

Must mean one of two things. They're either hyping their ACC and SEC partners; or, believe no one wants to watch games UConn wins.

The men's games being shown feature Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina. Trying to show stability in these troubled times?

UConn isn’t universally loved. It’s like the Patriots or Yankees in their heydays- people love to see them lose.

Im not quite sure why people think ESPN should be praising and fawning over UConn all the time.

 

[Gingerjar]

I've lurked for several years. I'm continuing to enjoy the Boneyard. Still deciding my answer.

 

[HuskyBandDad]

UConn isn’t universally loved. It’s like the Patriots or Yankees in their heydays- people love to see them lose.

Im not quite sure why people think ESPN should be praising and fawning over UConn all the time.

ESPNU showed 3 Uconn mens games last week. 1996 Big East championship final against Georgetown Ray Allen winning basket and 2011 BE quarter final against Pitt. Kemba winning basket. Both Uconn wins. Also the 2009 BE quarter final 6 overtime loss to Syracuse.

 

[MSGRET]

I've lurked for several years. I'm continuing to enjoy the Boneyard. Still deciding my answer.

I didn't know about the BY until after the UConn - Nevada game. Met a UConn fan from Connecticut at the casino that I was staying in, offered them a ride to the game. We sat together during the game and then had a late dinner at one of the restaurants. That was when they informed of the BY. When I got back home from Reno I did some research and followed the BY for awhile then decided I liked enough to participate. I'm thankful that for the time that I ran into Bob at the casino and thankful for the Boneyarder's. Welcome aboard and I hope that you enjoy the ride.

 

[Cornell Lt]

That Pulido moment is the single most gratifying moment I've ever had watching UConn WBB. The timing of it and the reaction by coaches and players alike was amazing to watch.

I actually use that clip in our annual training of new recruits, with the lesson being that you don't have be an alpha to contribute to the team, everybody has something to offer even on the biggest stage.

 

[bluedevil]

The truth is out there.

 

[HuskyNan]

That Pulido moment is the single most gratifying moment I've ever had watching UConn WBB. The timing of it and the reaction by coaches and players alike was amazing to watch.

I actually use that clip in our annual training of new recruits, with the lesson being that you don't have be an alpha to contribute to the team, everybody has something to offer even on the biggest stage.

Got another special moment for you-

That Heather Buck steal and layup ... [video]

Sorry for the bad quality, but this play always makes me smile ;) I was so happy for Heather when she made that lay up. What a great way to finish her selfless career at UConn.

the-boneyard.com

 

[Watchdog]

UConn isn’t universally loved. It’s like the Patriots or Yankees in their heydays- people love to see them lose.

Im not quite sure why people think ESPN should be praising and fawning over UConn all the time.

I know UConn isn't universally loved and that's what makes it special, like the Yankees and Patriots, but ESPN hardly praises and fawns over UConn all the time.

Before you give them a pass, consider the status of women's basketball nationwide today and UConn's role in raising the profile of the sport while also elevating the rest of the Big East, making it the best in the country until the breakup. Maybe it's because I've always enjoyed learning about history, but I think they could have done much more for women's basketball if they put some effort into it.

With the tournament cancelled, they could have broadcast a series of games over the next few weeks, from the early days before the sport was included in the NCAA to the present, that would have shown the growth of the sport to what it is today. Instead they chose to do low cost replays of four or five games that few, other than Mississippi St, Notre Dame and Louisville fans, would likely watch again.

How hard would it have been to pull together a couple people (Rebecca Lobo and Andy Landers come to mind) in the studio to do an overview of the sport's growth and announce the schedule of games that they'll be broadcasting that contributed to that growth? They have nothing else to do right now.

Finally, ESPN's "Requiem for the Big East" was pretty telling. ESPN also owes much of its success in becoming the dominant sports network today to its contract featuring Big East men's basketball early in the network's life, especially the Big Monday games and yet, in that "requiem", they nearly totally ignored UConn.

They told us how Georgetown dominated the league, with six championships in the first ten years, praised Syracuse for winning four games in four days to win the league tournament, but hardly mentioned the team that dominated the league in the last 21 years, tieing Georgetown with seven league championships, while winning as many national titles as all the other members combined............and winning five games in five days.

I rest both my paranoia and my case.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

As others have noted, ESPN wants to air exciting, down to the wire, nail biters.
Unfortunately in recent years, when UConn has been involved in important games of that description,
they usually lose. No slight by ESPN is intended IMO.